Method and apparatus for transform precoding configuration in random access procedure

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for transform precoding parameter in random access procedure. The method implemented at a terminal device comprises obtaining at least one transform precoding parameter to be used for a request message for a contention free random access (CFRA). The method further comprises transmitting, to a network node, the request message for the CFRA. The request message comprises a random access channel (RACH)preamble and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). A transform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message is controlled based on the at least one transform precoding parameter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the technology of wirelesscommunication, and in particular, to methods and apparatuses fortransform precoding configuration in random access procedure.

BACKGROUND

This section introduces aspects that may facilitate better understandingof the present disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this sectionare to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissionsabout what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a four-step random access procedure,which is also called Type-1 random access procedure. In a wirelesscommunication system, such as a new radio (NR) system, afour-step/4-step approach as shown in FIG. 1 may be used for randomaccess procedure. In this approach, the terminal device, such as a userequipment (UE) detects a synchronization signal (SS), including primarysynchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS) inphysical broadcast channel (PBCH) and decodes the system information,including remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other systeminformation (OSI), broadcasted in radio resource control (RRC) messages,followed by transmitting a physical random access channel (PRACH)preamble (message 1) in the uplink. A base station, such as a nextgeneration node B (gNB) replies with a random access response (RAR,message 2). The UE then transmits a UE identification (message 3) onphysical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

The UE transmits PUSCH (message 3) after receiving a timing advancecommand in the RAR, allowing PUSCH to be received with a timing accuracywithin the cyclic prefix (CP). Without this timing advance, a very largeCP would be needed in order to be able to demodulate and detect PUSCH,unless the system is applied in a cell with very small distance betweenUE and gNB. Since NR will also support larger cells with a need forproviding a timing advance to the LTE, the four-step approach is neededfor random access procedure.

In the four-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, UE shall, forthe PUSCH transmission, consider the transform precoding either enabledor disabled, see section 6.1.3 of 3rd generation partnership project(3GPP) technical specification (TS) 38.214 V16.0.0, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments mayprovide solutions to these or other challenges. There are, proposedherein, various embodiments which address one or more of the issuesdisclosed herein.

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implementedat a terminal device. The method comprises obtaining at least onetransform precoding parameter to be used for a request message for acontention free random access, CFRA. The method further comprisestransmitting, to a network node, the request message for the CFRA. Therequest message comprises: a random access channel, RACH, preamble and aphysical uplink shared channel, PUSCH. A transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message is controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one transformprecoding parameter may comprise one or more of at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA; at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in a two-step contention-based randomaccess, CBRA; at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCHin a four-step random access; at least one transform precoding parameterfor the PUSCH scheduled by downlink control information, DCI; and atleast one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH with a configuredgrant.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, when the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA is obtained, thetransform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message may becontrolled based on the at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH in the CFRA.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, when the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA is not obtainedand when at least one of following transform precoding parameters isobtained, the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the request messagemay be controlled based on the at least one of the following transformprecoding parameters:

-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the    two-step CBRA;-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the    four-step random access;-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH scheduled    by downlink control information, DCI; and;-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH with the    configured grant.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA may be provided in adedicated signalling.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, a field of the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA may be providedin the dedicated signalling.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the dedicated signalling maycomprise at least one of a dedicated signalling for random access in aradio resource control, RRC, message; a handover command message; a beamfailure recover message; and a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH,ordering the random access with two-step CFRA.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the dedicated signalling forrandom access in the RRC may be RACHConfigDedicated information element,IE.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node is a handovertarget network node, the method may further comprise receiving thededicated signalling from a handover source network node. The at leastone transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA may be sentby the handover target network node to the handover source network node.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the CFRA is a two-step CFRA,the method may further comprise receiving, from the network node, aresponse indicating whether the CFRA is successful.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in a two-stepcontention-based CBRA.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in a four-step randomaccess.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH scheduled by DCI.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH with a configured grant.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implementedat a network node. The method comprises transmitting at least onetransform precoding parameter to a terminal device. The method furthercomprises receiving, from the terminal device, a request message for acontention free random access, CFRA. The request message comprises arandom access channel, RACH, preamble and a physical uplink sharedchannel, PUSCH. A transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage is controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node is a handovertarget network node, said transmitting at least one transform precodingparameter to the terminal device may comprise transmitting the at leastone transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA to ahandover source network node which transmits the at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA in the dedicatedsignalling to the terminal device.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the CFRA is a two-step CFRA,the method may further comprise transmitting, to the terminal device, aresponse indicating whether the CFRA is successful.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a terminal device,comprising: a processor; and a memory. The memory contains instructionsexecutable by the processor, whereby the terminal device is operative toobtain at least one transform precoding parameter to be used for arequest message for a contention free random access, CFRA. The terminaldevice is further operative to transmit, to a network node, the requestmessage for the CFRA. The request message comprises a random accesschannel, RACH, preamble and a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH. Atransform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message is controlledbased on the at least one transform precoding parameter.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a network node,comprising: a processor; and a memory. The memory contains instructionsexecutable by the processor, whereby the network node is operative totransmit at least one transform precoding parameter to a terminaldevice; and receive, from the terminal device, a request message for acontention free random access, CFRA. The request message comprises arandom access channel, RACH, preamble and a physical uplink sharedchannel, PUSCH. A transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage is controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides a terminal device. Theterminal device comprises an obtaining module and a transmitting module.The obtaining module may be configured to obtain at least one transformprecoding parameter to be used for a request message for a contentionfree random access, CFRA. The transmitting module may be configured totransmit, to a network node, the request message for the CFRA. Therequest message comprises a random access channel, RACH, preamble and aphysical uplink shared channel, PUSCH. A transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message is controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure provides a network node. Thenetwork node comprises a transmitting module and a receiving module. Thetransmitting module may be configured to transmit at least one transformprecoding parameter to a terminal device. The receiving module may beconfigured to receive, from the terminal device, a request message for acontention free random access, CFRA. The request message comprises: arandom access channel, RACH, preamble and a physical uplink sharedchannel, PUSCH. A transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage is controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer programproduct comprising instructions which, when executed on at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of themethods according to the first and second aspects of the disclosure.

An eighth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communicationsystem including a host computer including: processing circuitryconfigured to provide user data; and a communication interfaceconfigured to forward the user data to a cellular network fortransmission to a terminal device. The cellular network includes anetwork node above mentioned, and/or the terminal device is abovementioned.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the system further includesthe terminal device, wherein the terminal device is configured tocommunicate with the network node.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry ofthe host computer is configured to execute a host application, therebyproviding the user data; and the terminal device includes processingcircuitry configured to execute a client application associated with thehost application.

A ninth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication systemincluding a host computer including: a communication interfaceconfigured to receive user data originating from a transmission from aterminal device; a network node. The transmission is from the terminaldevice to the network node. The network node is above mentioned, and/orthe terminal device is above mentioned.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry ofthe host computer is configured to execute a host application. Theterminal device is configured to execute a client application associatedwith the host application, thereby providing the user data to bereceived by the host computer.

A tenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implementedin a communication system which may include a host computer, a networknode and a UE. The method may comprise providing user data at the hostcomputer. Optionally, the method may comprise, at the host computer,initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via acellular network comprising the network node which may perform any stepof the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.

An eleventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a communicationsystem including a host computer. The host computer may compriseprocessing circuitry configured to provide user data, and acommunication interface configured to forward the user data to acellular network for transmission to a UE. The cellular network maycomprise a network node having a radio interface and processingcircuitry. The network node’s processing circuitry may be configured toperform any step of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure.

A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implementedin a communication system which may include a host computer, a networknode and a UE. The method may comprise providing user data at the hostcomputer. Optionally, the method may comprise, at the host computer,initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via acellular network comprising the network node. The UE may perform anystep of the method according to the first aspect of the presentdisclosure.

A thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communicationsystem including a host computer. The host computer may compriseprocessing circuitry configured to provide user data, and acommunication interface configured to forward user data to a cellularnetwork for transmission to a UE. The UE may comprise a radio interfaceand processing circuitry. The UE’s processing circuitry may beconfigured to perform any step of the method according to the firstaspect of the present disclosure.

A fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a methodimplemented in a communication system which may include a host computer,a network node and a UE. The method may comprise, at the host computer,receiving user data transmitted to the network node from the UE whichmay perform any step of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure.

A fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communicationsystem including a host computer. The host computer may comprise acommunication interface configured to receive user data originating froma transmission from a UE to a network node. The UE may comprise a radiointerface and processing circuitry. The UE’s processing circuitry may beconfigured to perform any step of the method according to the firstaspect of the present disclosure.

A sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a methodimplemented in a communication system which may include a host computer,a network node and a UE. The method may comprise, at the host computer,receiving, from the network node, user data originating from atransmission which the network node has received from the UE. Thenetwork node may perform any step of the method according to the secondaspect of the present disclosure.

A seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communicationsystem which may include a host computer. The host computer may comprisea communication interface configured to receive user data originatingfrom a transmission from a UE to a network node. The network node maycomprise a radio interface and processing circuitry. The network node’sprocessing circuitry may be configured to perform any step of the methodaccording to the second aspect of the present disclosure.

An eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides acomputer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor tocarry out any of the methods according to the first and second aspectsof the disclosure.

Embodiments herein afford many advantages, of which a non-exhaustivelist of examples follows. In some embodiments herein, methods fortransform precoding configuration on PUSCH in CFRA (such as msgA PUSCHwaveform configuration in CFRA) is proposed. In some embodiments herein,the proposed methods can consider the flexible signaling dynamicallyprovided in the dedicated message and/or the signaling overhead viareusing some of the existing parameters instead. The embodiments hereinare not limited to the features and advantages mentioned above. A personskilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantagesupon reading the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and benefits of variousembodiments of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent,by way of example, from the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numeralsor letters are used to designate like or equivalent elements. Thedrawings are illustrated for facilitating better understanding of theembodiments of the disclosure and not necessarily drawn to scale, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a four-step random access procedure;

FIG. 2 a is a diagram illustrating a two-step random access procedure;

FIG. 2 b is a diagram illustrating CFRA with two-step RA type;

FIG. 2 c is a diagram illustrating CBRA with two-step RA type;

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an apparatus suitable for practicingsome embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a terminal device according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a network node according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic showing a wireless network in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 10 is a schematic showing a user equipment in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 11 is a schematic showing a virtualization environment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a schematic showing a telecommunication network connected viaan intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 13 is a schematic showing a host computer communicating via a basestation with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 15 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 16 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood thatthese embodiments are discussed only for the purpose of enabling thoseskilled persons in the art to better understand and thus implement thepresent disclosure, rather than suggesting any limitations on the scopeof the present disclosure. Reference throughout this specification tofeatures, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of thefeatures and advantages that may be realized with the present disclosureshould be or are in any single embodiment of the disclosure. Rather,language referring to the features and advantages is understood to meanthat a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described inconnection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Furthermore, the described features, advantages,and characteristics of the disclosure may be combined in any suitablemanner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art willrecognize that the disclosure may be practiced without one or more ofthe specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In otherinstances, additional features and advantages may be recognized incertain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of thedisclosure.

As used herein, the term “network” or “communication network” refers toa network following any suitable wireless communication standards. Forexample, the wireless communication standards may comprise new radio(NR), long term evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, wideband code divisionmultiple access (WCDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Address (TDMA), FrequencyDivision Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency-Division MultipleAccess (OFDMA), Single carrier frequency division multiple access(SC-FDMA) and other wireless networks. A CDMA network may implement aradio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc.UTRA includes WCDMA and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA network mayimplement a radio technology such as Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM). An OFDMA network may implement a radio technologysuch as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, Ad-hoc network,wireless sensor network, etc. In the following description, the terms“network” and “system” can be used interchangeably. Furthermore, thecommunications between two devices in the network may be performedaccording to any suitable communication protocols, including, but notlimited to, the wireless communication protocols as defined by astandard organization such as 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP)or the wired communication protocols. For example, the wirelesscommunication protocols may comprise the first generation (1G), 2G, 3G,4G, 4.5G, 5G communication protocols, and/or any other protocols eithercurrently known or to be developed in the future.

The term “network node” or “network side node” refers to a networkdevice with accessing function in a communication network via which aterminal device accesses to the network and receives services therefrom.The network node may include a base station (BS), an access point (AP),a multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), a controller or anyother suitable device in a wireless communication network. The BS maybe, for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB oreNB), a next generation NodeB (gNodeB or gNB), a remote radio unit(RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, a lowpower node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth.

Yet further examples of the network node comprise multi-standard radio(MSR) radio equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radionetwork controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), basetransceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes,positioning nodes and/or the like. More generally, however, the networknode may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable,configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide aterminal device access to a wireless communication network or to providesome service to a terminal device that has accessed to the wirelesscommunication network.

Further, term “network node” or “network side node” may also refer to anetwork device with core network function. The network node may refer toa mobility management entity (MME), or a mobile switching center (MSC).

The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that can access acommunication network and receive services therefrom. By way of exampleand not limitation, the terminal device refers to a mobile terminal,user equipment (UE), or other suitable devices. The UE may be, forexample, a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, aMobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device mayinclude, but not limited to, a portable computer, an image captureterminal device such as a digital camera, a gaming terminal device, amusic storage and a playback appliance, a mobile phone, a cellularphone, a smart phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless localloop phone, a tablet, a wearable device, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a portable computer, a desktop computer, a wearable terminaldevice, a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, a wireless endpoint,a mobile station, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mountedequipment (LME), a USB dongle, a smart device, a wirelesscustomer-premises equipment (CPE) and the like. In the followingdescription, the terms “terminal device”, “terminal”, “user equipment”and “UE” may be used interchangeably. As one example, a terminal devicemay represent a UE configured for communication in accordance with oneor more communication standards promulgated by the 3GPP, such as 3GPP'LTE standard or NR standard. As used herein, a “user equipment” or “UE”may not necessarily have a “user” in the sense of a human user who ownsand/or operates the relevant device. In some embodiments, a terminaldevice may be configured to transmit and/or receive information withoutdirect human interaction. For instance, a terminal device may bedesigned to transmit information to a network on a predeterminedschedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or inresponse to requests from the communication network. Instead, a UE mayrepresent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, ahuman user but that may not initially be associated with a specifichuman user.

As yet another example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, aterminal device may represent a machine or other device that performsmonitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of suchmonitoring and/or measurements to another terminal device and/or networkequipment. The terminal device may in this case be a machine-to-machine(M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as amachine-type communication (MTC) device. As one particular example, theterminal device may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internetof things (NB-IoT) standard. Particular examples of such machines ordevices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrialmachinery, or home or personal appliances, for example refrigerators,televisions, personal wearables such as watches etc. In other scenarios,a terminal device may represent a vehicle or other equipment that iscapable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status orother functions associated with its operation.

As used herein, a downlink, DL, transmission refers to a transmissionfrom a network device to a terminal device, and an uplink, UL,transmission refers to a transmission in an opposite direction.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includesthe particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, suchphrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further,when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within theknowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described.

It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed terms.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of A and B” should beunderstood to mean “only A, only B, or both A and B.” The phrase “Aand/or B” should be understood to mean “only A, only B, or both A andB.”

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exampleembodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and/or“including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features,elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, elements, components and/ orcombinations thereof.

It is noted that these terms as used in this document are used only forease of description and differentiation among nodes, devices or networksetc. With the development of the technology, other terms with thesimilar/same meanings may also be used.

In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, alltechnical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning ascommonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which thisdisclosure belongs.

It is noted that some embodiments of the present disclosure are mainlydescribed in relation to 5G or NR specifications being used asnon-limiting examples for certain exemplary network configurations andsystem deployments. As such, the description of exemplary embodimentsgiven herein specifically refers to terminology which is directlyrelated thereto. Such terminology is only used in the context of thepresented non-limiting examples and embodiments, and does naturally notlimit the present disclosure in any way. Rather, any other systemconfiguration or radio technologies may equally be utilized as long asexemplary embodiments described herein are applicable.

FIGS. 2 a 2 b 2 c is a diagram illustrating a two-step random accessprocedure, which is also called Type-2 random access procedure. Asillustrated in FIGS. 2 a 2 b 2 c , the initial random access may becompleted in only two-steps. Similar to the four-step random accessprocedure, the terminal device, such as a user equipment (UE) detects asynchronization signal (SS), including primary synchronization signal(PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS) in physical broadcastchannel (PBCH) and decodes the system information, including remainingminimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI),broadcasted in radio resource control (RRC) messages. At the first step,the UE transmits, to the base station, the request message (message A,MsgA) for the random access. As the second step, the UE receives, fromthe base station, a response (message B, MsgB) indicating whether therandom access is successful. The request message (MsgA) may comprise aRACH preamble and a PUSCH.

Particularly, message A (msgA) may include random access preambletogether with higher layer data such as radio resource control (RRC)connection request possibly with some small payload on PUSCH. MessageB(MsgB) may include UE identifier assignment, timing advanceinformation, and contention resolution message, etc.

In such two-step RACH procedure, the preamble and PUSCH will betransmitted by UE in one message called message A before UE receives therandom access response (message B).

In NR RAN#85 meeting, it is agreed to support CFRA two-step RACH asindicated in RP-192330, Revised work item proposal: two-step RACH forNR, Newport Beach, USA, September 16-20, 2019, the disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

For transmission of msgA PUSCH, i.e. the PUSCH part of msgA, the notionof a PUSCH Resource Unit has been introduced, where a PUSCH ResourceUnit consists of time-frequency radio resources of transmission and DMRS(Demodulation Reference Signal) sequence configuration. Two simultaneousmsgA PUSCH transmissions can be distinguished by the receiver sincedifferent PUSCH Resource Units have been used for the two simultaneoustransmissions. The notion of PUSCH Occasion is also introduced, where aPUSCH occasion consists of time-frequency radio resources for thetransmission of a msgA PUSCH.

In four-step random access and two-step random access, the random accesscan be performed in two different ways: contention-based random access(CBRA) and contention-free random access (CFRA). The difference is whichpreamble is used. In the contention-based case, the UE randomly selectsa preamble from a range of preambles. Here there might be collisions iftwo UEs select the same preamble. In the contention-free case, the UE isgiven a specific preamble by the network and since it is given by thenetwork, this will ensure that two UEs will not select the samepreamble, thus it is collision-free. The CBRA may be used when the UE isin an idle/inactive state and wants to go to the connected state, whilethe CFRA may be used for performing handover and/or in beam failureprocedures.

FIG. 2 b is a diagram illustrating CFRA with two-step RA type. FIG. 2 cis a diagram illustrating CBRA with two-step RA type.

The MsgA of the two-step RA type includes a preamble on PRACH and apayload on PUSCH. After MsgA transmission, the UE monitors for aresponse from the network within a configured window. For CFRA, uponreceiving the network response, the UE ends the random access procedureas shown in FIG. 2 b . For CBRA, if contention resolution is successfulupon receiving the network response, the UE ends the random accessprocedure as shown in FIG. 2 c ; while if fallback indication isreceived in MsgB, the UE performs Msg3 transmission and monitorscontention resolution. If contention resolution is not successful afterMsg3 (re)transmission(s), the UE goes back to MsgA transmission.

UE Procedure for Applying Transform Preceding on PUSCH (As Described inSection 6.1.3 of 3GPP TS 38.213 V16.0.0)

For a PUSCH scheduled by RAR UL grant, or for a PUSCH scheduled byfallbackRAR UL grant, or for a PUSCH scheduled by DCI (Downlink controlinformation) format 0_0 with CRC (Cyclic redundancy check) scrambled byTC-RNTI(Temporary Cell RNTI(Radio Network Temporary Identifier)), the UEshall consider the transform precoding either ‘enabled’ or ‘disabled’according to the higher layer configured parametermsg3-transformPrecoder.

For a MsgA PUSCH in CBRA, the UE shall consider the transform precodingeither ‘enabled’ or ‘disabled’ according to the higher layer configuredparameter msgA-transformPrecoder (for CBRA). If higher layer parametermsgA-transformPrecoder is not configured, the UE shall consider thetransform precoding either ‘enabled’ or ‘disabled’ according to thehigher layer configured parameter msg3-transformPrecoder.

For PUSCH transmission scheduled by a PDCCH with CRC scrambled byCS-RNTI (Configured Scheduling RNTI) with NDI(New Data Indicator)=1,C-RNTI (Cell RNTI), or MCS-C-RNTI (Modulcation Coding Scheme Cell RNTI)or SP-CSI-RNTI(Semi-Persistent CSI RNTI):

-   If the DCI with the scheduling grant was received with DCI format    0_0, the UE shall, for this PUSCH transmission, consider the    transform precoding either enabled or disabled according to the    higher layer configured parameter msg3-transformPrecoder.-   If the DCI with the scheduling grant was not received with DCI    format 0_0-   If the UE is configured with the higher layer parameter    transformPrecoder in pusch-Config, the UE shall, for this PUSCH    transmission, consider the transform precoding either enabled or    disabled according to this parameter.-   If the UE is not configured with the higher layer parameter    transformPrecoder in pusch-Config, the UE shall, for this PUSCH    transmission, consider the transform precoding either enabled or    disabled according to the higher layer configured parameter    msg3-transformPrecoder.

For PUSCH transmission with a configured grant

-   If the UE is configured with the higher layer parameter    transformPrecoder in configuredGrantConfig, the UE shall, for this    PUSCH transmission, consider the transform precoding either enabled    or disabled according to this parameter.-   If the UE is not configured with the higher layer parameter    transformPrecoder in configuredGrantConfig, the UE shall, for this    PUSCH transmission, consider the transform precoding either enabled    or disabled according to the higher layer configured parameter    msg3-transformPrecoder.

In two-step RA procedure, the preamble and msgA PUSCH may be transmittedby a UE in one message called message A (msgA). The msgA PUSCH resourceallocation for CFRA may be as below in general. The PUSCH resource fortwo-step CFRA associated with the dedicated preamble may be configuredto the UE via a dedicated signalling (i.e. it may not be included inSIB1(System Information Block Type 1)). For example, the msgA PUSCH canbe a kind of dynamically scheduled PUSCH in CFRA (such as two-stepCFRA). However there is not any solution for how to determine orconfigure transform precoding on PUSCH (such as msgA PUSCH) in CFRA.

To overcome or mitigate the above mentioned problem or other problems,some embodiments of the present disclosure propose a solution for how todetermine or configure transform precoding on PUSCH in CFRA. Theproposed solution according to some embodiments considers the flexiblesignaling dynamically provided in the dedicated message and/or thesignaling overhead via reusing some of the existing parameters instead.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, which may be performed by an apparatus implementedin/as a terminal device or communicatively coupled to the terminaldevice. As such, the apparatus may provide means for accomplishingvarious parts of the method 300 as well as means for accomplishing otherprocesses in conjunction with other components.

At block 302, the terminal device may obtain at least one transformprecoding parameter to be used for a request message for a CFRA. Atransform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message may becontrolled based on the at least one transform precoding parameter. Therequest message may comprise a RACH preamble and a PUSCH. The RACHpreamble may be configured to the terminal device via a dedicatedsignalling. The dedicated signalling may be any suitable dedicatedsignalling such as RACH-ConfigDedicated information element (IE) in aradio resource control (RRC) message as described in 3GPP TS36.331V15.8.0, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein inits entirety. The CFRA may be any suitable random access. In anembodiment, the CFRA may be two-step CFRA. The request message may beMsgA of two-step CFRA. The PUSCH may be PUSCH of MsgA.

The transform precoding may be a processing step of PUSCH to generatecomplex-valued symbols. In an embodiment, the functionality of transformprecoding may be similar to the corresponding transform precoding asdescribed in various 3GPP specifications such as 3GPP TS38.213 V16.0.0,3GPP TS 36.211 V16.0.0, etc. When the terminal device obtains the atleast one transform precoding parameter, the terminal device mayconsider the transform precoding either ‘enabled’ or ‘disabled’according to the at least one transform precoding parameter.

Waveform of PUSCH can be CP-OFDM (Cyclic-Prefix Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiplexing) or DFT-S-OFDM (Discrete Fourier TransformationSpread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). If transformprecoding is enabled, DFT-S-OFDM is used, if transform precoding is notenabled, CP-OFDM is applied. For example, the transformer precoderconfiguration, also called as waveform configuration, may be used toapply a DFT transformation to generate signals or channels withDFT-S-OFDM waveform. If the transformer precoder is disabled, a cyclicprefix-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) waveform isgenerated. The details of transform precoding may be obtained fromsection 6.3.1.4 of 3GPP TS 38.211 V16.0.0

The at least one transform precoding parameter may be any suitabletransform precoding parameters configured for various PUSCHs. In anexample, the at least one transform precoding parameter may comprise atleast one of the transform precoding parameters (such asmsg3-transformPrecoder, msgA-transformPrecoder (for CBRA),transformPrecoder, etc.) as described in section 6.1.3 of 3GPP TS 38.213V16.0.0. The at least one transform precoding parameter may beconfigured to the terminal device in various ways. For example, atransform precoding parameter may be preconfigured in the terminaldevice. A transform precoding parameter may be transmitted to theterminal device in a dedicated signalling. A transform precodingparameter may be transmitted to the terminal device in a broadcastsignalling. A transform precoding parameter may be transmitted to theterminal device in a cell-specific signaling configured per BWP(Bandwidth part). A transform precoding parameter may reuse othertransform precoding parameter for other message(s) which may beconfigured to the terminal device in a dedicated signalling or abroadcast signalling or a cell-specific signaling configured per BWP.

In an embodiment, the at least one transform precoding parameter maycomprise one or more of at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH in the CFRA; at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH in a two-step contention-based random access, CBRA; at leastone transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in a four-step randomaccess; a transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH scheduled bydownlink control information, DCI; and at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH with a configured grant.

In an embodiment, the at least one transform precoding parameter for thePUSCH in the CFRA may be provided in a dedicated signalling. Forexample, the at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH inthe CFRA may be transmitted to the terminal device in the dedicatedsignalling. The dedicated signalling may be any suitable dedicatedsignalling such as RACH-ConfigDedicated information element (IE) in aradio resource control (RRC) message as described in 3GPP TS36.331V15.8.0.

In an embodiment, the at least one transform precoding parameter formsgA PUSCH may be provided in the dedicated signaling for two-step CFRAprocedure.

In an embodiment, the dedicated signalling for preamble and thededicated signalling for the waveform/transform precoding configurationfor the PUSCH in the CFRA may be in a RRC message such as the same IE,e.g. RACH-ConfigDedicated IE in one RRC message.

In an embodiment, a field of the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA is provided in the dedicatedsignalling. As an example, as shown in Table 1, 1 bit field“msgA-transformPrecodeCFRA” provided in RACH-ConfigDedicated IE may beused for waveform) determination for msgA PUSCH transmission in CFRA.

Table 1 msgA-transformPrecodeCFRA Waveform of msgA PUSCH in CFRA. If theparameter is not configured, msgA PUSCH follows the waveform of msgAPUSCH in CBRA.

In an embodiment, the dedicated signalling may comprise at least one ofa dedicated signalling for random access in a radio resource control,RRC, message; a handover command message; a beam failure recovermessage; and a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, ordering therandom access with two-step CFRA.

In an embodiment, the dedicated signalling for random access in the RRCmay be RACHConfigDedicated information element, IE.

In an embodiment, when the at least one transform precoding parameterfor the PUSCH in the CFRA is obtained, the transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA.

In an embodiment, when the at least one transform precoding parameterfor the PUSCH in the CFRA is not obtained and when at least one offollowing transform precoding parameters is obtained, the transformprecoding on the PUSCH of the request message may be controlled based onthe at least one of the following transform precoding parameters:

-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the    two-step CBRA;-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the    four-step random access;-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH scheduled    by DCI; and;-   at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH with the    configured grant.

As a first example, if the at least one transform precoding parameterfor the PUSCH in the two-step CBRA is obtained and other transformprecoding parameters are not obtained, the UE may, for the PUSCHtransmission of CFRA, consider the transform precoding either enabled ordisabled according to the at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH in the two-step CBRA.

As a second example, if the at least one transform precoding parameterfor the PUSCH in the four-step random access is obtained and othertransform precoding parameters are not obtained, the UE may, for thePUSCH transmission of CFRA, consider the transform precoding eitherenabled or disabled according to the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in the four-step random access.

As a third example, if the at least one transform precoding parameterfor the PUSCH scheduled by DCI is obtained and other transform precodingparameters are not obtained, the UE may, for the PUSCH transmission ofCFRA, consider the transform precoding either enabled or disabledaccording to the at least one transform precoding parameter for thePUSCH scheduled by DCI.

As a fourth example, if the at least one transform precoding parameterfor the PUSCH with the configured grant is obtained and other transformprecoding parameters are not obtained, the UE may, for the PUSCHtransmission of CFRA, consider the transform precoding either enabled ordisabled according to the at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH with the configured grant.

In an embodiment, the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage may be controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA.

In an embodiment, the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage may be controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in a two-step contention-based CBRA.

In an embodiment, the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage may be controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in a four-step random access.

In an embodiment, the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage may be controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH scheduled by DCI.

In an embodiment, the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage may be controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH with a configured grant.

At block 304, the terminal device may transmit, to a network node, therequest message for the CFRA.

At block 306 (optionally), when the CFRA is a two-step CFRA, theterminal device may receive, from the network node, a responseindicating whether the CFRA is successful. The response may be MsgB oftwo-step CFRA.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure, which may be performed by an apparatusimplemented in/as a terminal device or communicatively coupled to theterminal device. As such, the apparatus may provide means foraccomplishing various parts of the method 400 as well as means foraccomplishing other processes in conjunction with other components. Forsome parts which have been described in the above embodiments, detaileddescription thereof is omitted here for brevity. In this embodiment, thenetwork node is a handover target network node.

At block 402, the terminal device may receive the dedicated signallingfrom a handover source network node. The at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA may be sent by thehandover target network node to the handover source network node.

At block 404, the terminal device may obtain at least one transformprecoding parameter to be used for a request message for a CFRA. Therequest message may comprises a RACH preamble and a PUSCH. A transformprecoding on the PUSCH of the request message may be controlled based onthe at least one transform precoding parameter. Block 404 is similar toblock 302 of FIG. 3 .

At block 406, the terminal device may transmit, to the handover targetnetwork node, the request message for the CFRA. Block 406 is similar toblock 304 of FIG. 3 .

At block 408, when the CFRA is a two-step CFRA, the terminal device mayreceive, from the handover target network node, a response indicatingwhether the CFRA is successful. Block 408 is similar to block 306 ofFIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure, which may be performed by an apparatusimplemented in/as a network node or communicatively coupled to thenetwork node. As such, the apparatus may provide means for accomplishingvarious parts of the method 500 as well as means for accomplishing otherprocesses in conjunction with other components. For some parts whichhave been described in the above embodiments, detailed descriptionthereof is omitted here for brevity.

At block 502, the network node may transmit at least one transformprecoding parameter to a terminal device. The at least one transformprecoding parameter may be transmitted to the terminal device in variousmessages such as dedicated signalling, broadcast signalling, etc. Thenetwork node may transmit at least one transform precoding parameter tothe terminal device directly or via another network node.

In an embodiment, the network node is a handover target network node,the network node may transmit the at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA to a handover source network nodewhich transmits the at least one transform precoding parameter for thePUSCH in the CFRA in the dedicated signalling to the terminal device.

At block 504, the network node may receive, from the terminal device, arequest message for a CFRA. For example, the terminal device maytransmit the request message at block 304 of FIG. 3 , and then thenetwork node may receive this request message. The request message maycomprises a RACH preamble and a PUSCH. A transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter.

At block 506 (optionally), when the CFRA is a two-step CFRA, the networknode may transmit, to the terminal device, a response indicating whetherthe CFRA is successful. The response may be MsgB of two-step CFRA.

In an embodiment, the at least one transform precoding parameter of msgAPUSCH for CFRA may use one or more of the following:

-   The at least one transform precoding parameter of msgA PUSCH for    CBRA (this may be configured per BWP (Bandwidth part)). For example,    the higher layer configured parameter msgA-transformPrecoder (for    CBRA) may be reused.-   The at least one transform precoding parameter of msg3 PUSCH. For    example, the higher layer configured parameter    msg3-transformPrecoder may be reused.-   The at least one transform precoding parameter provided for the    normal PUSCH (such as non-randon access PUSCH) transmission in the    PUSCH configuration (such as PUSCH-config) IE (Information Element)-   The at least one transform precoding parameter of PUSCH with a    configured grant. For example, the transformPrecoder in the    configuredGrantConfig may be reused.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an apparatus suitable for practicingsome embodiments of the disclosure. For example, any one of the networknode and the terminal device described above may be implemented as orthrough the apparatus 600.

The apparatus 600 comprises at least one processor 621, such as a DP,and at least one MEM 622 coupled to the processor 621. The apparatus 620may further comprise a transmitter TX and receiver RX 623 coupled to theprocessor 621. The MEM 622 stores a PROG 624. The PROG 624 may includeinstructions that, when executed on the associated processor 621, enablethe apparatus 620 to operate in accordance with the embodiments of thepresent disclosure. A combination of the at least one processor 621 andthe at least one MEM 622 may form processing means 625 adapted toimplement various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented bycomputer program executable by one or more of the processor 621,software, firmware, hardware or in a combination thereof.

The MEM 622 may be of any type suitable to the local technicalenvironment and may be implemented using any suitable data storagetechnology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memorydevices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memoriesand removable memories, as non-limiting examples.

The processor 621 may be of any type suitable to the local technicalenvironment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers,special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors(DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, asnon-limiting examples.

In an embodiment where the apparatus is implemented as or at theterminal device, the memory 622 contains instructions executable by theprocessor 621, whereby the terminal device operates according to any ofthe methods 300 and 400 as described in reference to FIGS. 3-4 .

In an embodiment where the apparatus is implemented as or at the networknode, the memory 622 contains instructions executable by the processor621, whereby the network node operates according to the method 500 asdescribed in reference to FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a terminal device according to anembodiment of the disclosure. As shown, the terminal device 700comprises an obtaining module 702 and a transmitting module 704. Theobtaining module 702 may be configured to obtain at least one transformprecoding parameter to be used for a request message for a contentionfree random access, CFRA. The transmitting module 704 may be configuredto transmit, to a network node, the request message for the CFRA. Therequest message may comprise a random access channel, RACH, preamble anda physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH. A transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message may be controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a network node according to anembodiment of the disclosure. As shown, the network node 800 comprises atransmitting module 802 and a receiving module 804. The transmittingmodule 802 may be configured to transmit at least one transformprecoding parameter to a terminal device. The receiving module 804 maybe configured to receive, from the terminal device, a request messagefor a contention free random access, CFRA. The request message maycomprise a random access channel, RACH, preamble and a physical uplinkshared channel, PUSCH. A transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage may be controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter.

The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics,electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, forexample, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules,processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices,computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks,procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and soon, as such as those that are described herein.

With function units, the terminal device or network node may not need afixed processor or memory, any computing resource and storage resourcemay be arranged from the network node or terminal device in thecommunication system. The introduction of virtualization technology andnetwork computing technology may improve the usage efficiency of thenetwork resources and the flexibility of the network.

Further, the exemplary overall commutation system including the terminaldevice and the network node such as base station will be introduced asbelow.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication systemincluding a host computer including: processing circuitry configured toprovide user data; and a communication interface configured to forwardthe user data to a cellular network for transmission to a terminaldevice. The cellular network includes a base station above mentioned,and/or the terminal device is above mentioned.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the system further includesthe terminal device, wherein the terminal device is configured tocommunicate with the base station.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry ofthe host computer is configured to execute a host application, therebyproviding the user data; and the terminal device includes processingcircuitry configured to execute a client application associated with thehost application.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a communicationsystem including a host computer including: a communication interfaceconfigured to receive user data originating from a transmission from aterminal device; a base station. The transmission is from the terminaldevice to the base station. The base station is above mentioned, and/orthe terminal device is above mentioned.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry ofthe host computer is configured to execute a host application. Theterminal device is configured to execute a client application associatedwith the host application, thereby providing the user data to bereceived by the host computer.

FIG. 9 is a schematic showing a wireless network in accordance with someembodiments.

Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in anyappropriate type of system using any suitable components, theembodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wirelessnetwork, such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIG. 9 .For simplicity, the wireless network of FIG. 9 only depicts network1006, network nodes 1060 (corresponding to network side node) and 1060b, and WDs (corresponding to terminal device) 1010, 1010 b, and 1010 c.In practice, a wireless network may further include any additionalelements suitable to support communication between wireless devices orbetween a wireless device and another communication device, such as alandline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or enddevice. Of the illustrated components, network node 1060 and wirelessdevice (WD) 1010 are depicted with additional detail. The wirelessnetwork may provide communication and other types of services to one ormore wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices’ access toand/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.

The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type ofcommunication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio networkor other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wirelessnetwork may be configured to operate according to specific standards orother types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particularembodiments of the wireless network may implement communicationstandards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless localarea network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/orany other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as theWorldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth,Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

Network 1006 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks,IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet datanetworks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local areanetworks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks,wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks toenable communication between devices.

Network node 1060 and WD 1010 comprise various components described inmore detail below. These components work together in order to providenetwork node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providingwireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments,the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wirelessnetworks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices,relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that mayfacilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signalswhether via wired or wireless connections.

As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured,arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with awireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in thewireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to thewireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration)in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are notlimited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), basestations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs(eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based onthe amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, theirtransmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto basestations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro basestations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor nodecontrolling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (orall) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralizeddigital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to asRemote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not beintegrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of adistributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in adistributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodesinclude multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, networkcontrollers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base stationcontrollers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmissionpoints, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities(MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SONnodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As anotherexample, a network node may be a virtual network node as described inmore detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may representany suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged,and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with accessto the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless devicethat has accessed the wireless network.

In FIG. 9 , network node 1060 includes processing circuitry 1070, devicereadable medium 1080, interface 1090, auxiliary equipment 1084, powersource 1086, power circuitry 1087, and antenna 1062. Although networknode 1060 illustrated in the example wireless network of FIG. 9 mayrepresent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardwarecomponents, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with differentcombinations of components. It is to be understood that a network nodecomprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed toperform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein.Moreover, while the components of network node 1060 are depicted assingle boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multipleboxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple differentphysical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g.,device readable medium 1080 may comprise multiple separate hard drivesas well as multiple RAM modules).

Similarly, network node 1060 may be composed of multiple physicallyseparate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or aBTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their ownrespective components. In certain scenarios in which network node 1060comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components),one or more of the separate components may be shared among severalnetwork nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB’s.In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in someinstances be considered a single separate network node. In someembodiments, network node 1060 may be configured to support multipleradio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some componentsmay be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium 1080 for thedifferent RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the sameantenna 1062 may be shared by the RATs). Network node 1060 may alsoinclude multiple sets of the various illustrated components fordifferent wireless technologies integrated into network node 1060, suchas, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wirelesstechnologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into thesame or different chip or set of chips and other components withinnetwork node 1060.

Processing circuitry 1070 is configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being provided by a network node. These operationsperformed by processing circuitry 1070 may include processinginformation obtained by processing circuitry 1070 by, for example,converting the obtained information into other information, comparingthe obtained information or converted information to information storedin the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based onthe obtained information or converted information, and as a result ofsaid processing making a determination.

Processing circuitry 1070 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other networknode 1060 components, such as device readable medium 1080, network node1060 functionality. For example, processing circuitry 1070 may executeinstructions stored in device readable medium 1080 or in memory withinprocessing circuitry 1070. Such functionality may include providing anyof the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussedherein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1070 may include asystem on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1070 may include one or moreof radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1072 and basebandprocessing circuitry 1074. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF)transceiver circuitry 1072 and baseband processing circuitry 1074 may beon separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radiounits and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RFtransceiver circuitry 1072 and baseband processing circuitry 1074 may beon the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or othersuch network device may be performed by processing circuitry 1070executing instructions stored on device readable medium 1080 or memorywithin processing circuitry 1070. In alternative embodiments, some orall of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 1070without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete devicereadable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of thoseembodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readablestorage medium or not, processing circuitry 1070 can be configured toperform the described functionality. The benefits provided by suchfunctionality are not limited to processing circuitry 1070 alone or toother components of network node 1060, but are enjoyed by network node1060 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium 1080 may comprise any form of volatile ornon-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation,persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory,magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removablestorage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or aDigital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile,non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devicesthat store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used byprocessing circuitry 1070. Device readable medium 1080 may store anysuitable instructions, data or information, including a computerprogram, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules,code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executedby processing circuitry 1070 and, utilized by network node 1060. Devicereadable medium 1080 may be used to store any calculations made byprocessing circuitry 1070 and/or any data received via interface 1090.In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1070 and device readablemedium 1080 may be considered to be integrated.

Interface 1090 is used in the wired or wireless communication ofsignalling and/or data between network node 1060, network 1006, and/orWDs 1010. As illustrated, interface 1090 comprises port(s)/terminal(s)1094 to send and receive data, for example to and from network 1006 overa wired connection. Interface 1090 also includes radio front endcircuitry 1092 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a partof, antenna 1062. Radio front end circuitry 1092 comprises filters 1098and amplifiers 1096. Radio front end circuitry 1092 may be connected toantenna 1062 and processing circuitry 1070. Radio front end circuitrymay be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1062and processing circuitry 1070. Radio front end circuitry 1092 mayreceive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes orWDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 1092 mayconvert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriatechannel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1098and/or amplifiers 1096. The radio signal may then be transmitted viaantenna 1062. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 1062 may collectradio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio frontend circuitry 1092. The digital data may be passed to processingcircuitry 1070. In other embodiments, the interface may comprisedifferent components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node 1060 may not includeseparate radio front end circuitry 1092, instead, processing circuitry1070 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected toantenna 1062 without separate radio front end circuitry 1092. Similarly,in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 1072 may beconsidered a part of interface 1090. In still other embodiments,interface 1090 may include one or more ports or terminals 1094, radiofront end circuitry 1092, and RF transceiver circuitry 1072, as part ofa radio unit (not shown), and interface 1090 may communicate withbaseband processing circuitry 1074, which is part of a digital unit (notshown).

Antenna 1062 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 1062 may becoupled to radio front end circuitry 1090 and may be any type of antennacapable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. Insome embodiments, antenna 1062 may comprise one or moreomni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receiveradio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. Anomni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signalsin any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radiosignals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna maybe a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in arelatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than oneantenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna 1062may be separate from network node 1060 and may be connectable to networknode 1060 through an interface or port.

Antenna 1062, interface 1090, and/or processing circuitry 1070 may beconfigured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtainingoperations described herein as being performed by a network node. Anyinformation, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device,another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly,antenna 1062, interface 1090, and/or processing circuitry 1070 may beconfigured to perform any transmitting operations described herein asbeing performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signalsmay be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or anyother network equipment.

Power circuitry 1087 may comprise, or be coupled to, power managementcircuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node1060 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Powercircuitry 1087 may receive power from power source 1086. Power source1086 and/or power circuitry 1087 may be configured to provide power tothe various components of network node 1060 in a form suitable for therespective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed foreach respective component). Power source 1086 may either be included in,or external to, power circuitry 1087 and/or network node 1060. Forexample, network node 1060 may be connectable to an external powersource (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interfacesuch as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source suppliespower to power circuitry 1087. As a further example, power source 1086may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery packwhich is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry 1087. Thebattery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also beused.

Alternative embodiments of network node 1060 may include additionalcomponents beyond those shown in FIG. 9 that may be responsible forproviding certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, includingany of the functionality described herein and/or any functionalitynecessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example,network node 1060 may include user interface equipment to allow input ofinformation into network node 1060 and to allow output of informationfrom network node 1060. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic,maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node1060.

As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable,configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly withnetwork nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, theterm WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE).Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receivingwireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infraredwaves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying informationthrough air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmitand/or receive information without direct human interaction. Forinstance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on apredetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event,or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include,but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, avoice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktopcomputer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, agaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance,a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, atablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mountedequipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment(CPE), a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc.. A WD maysupport device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example byimplementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication,vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I),vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2Dcommunication device. As yet another specific example, in an Internet ofThings (IoT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device thatperforms monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results ofsuch monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node.The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which mayin a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particularexample, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internetof things (NB-IoT) standard. Particular examples of such machines ordevices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrialmachinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators,televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers,etc.). In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or otherequipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on itsoperational status or other functions associated with its operation. AWD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wirelessconnection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wirelessterminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in whichcase it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.

As illustrated, wireless device 1010 includes antenna 1011, interface1014, processing circuitry 1020, device readable medium 1030, userinterface equipment 1032, auxiliary equipment 1034, power source 1036and power circuitry 1037. WD 1010 may include multiple sets of one ormore of the illustrated components for different wireless technologiessupported by WD 1010, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi,WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. Thesewireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chipsor set of chips as other components within WD 1010.

Antenna 1011 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected tointerface 1014. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna 1011 may beseparate from WD 1010 and be connectable to WD 1010 through an interfaceor port. Antenna 1011, interface 1014, and/or processing circuitry 1020may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operationsdescribed herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, dataand/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. Insome embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna 1011 may beconsidered an interface.

As illustrated, interface 1014 comprises radio front end circuitry 1012and antenna 1011. Radio front end circuitry 1012 comprise one or morefilters 1018 and amplifiers 1016. Radio front end circuitry 1014 isconnected to antenna 1011 and processing circuitry 1020, and isconfigured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1011 andprocessing circuitry 1020. Radio front end circuitry 1012 may be coupledto or a part of antenna 1011. In some embodiments, WD 1010 may notinclude separate radio front end circuitry 1012; rather, processingcircuitry 1020 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may beconnected to antenna 1011. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or allof RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may be considered a part of interface1014. Radio front end circuitry 1012 may receive digital data that is tobe sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection.Radio front end circuitry 1012 may convert the digital data into a radiosignal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using acombination of filters 1018 and/or amplifiers 1016. The radio signal maythen be transmitted via antenna 1011. Similarly, when receiving data,antenna 1011 may collect radio signals which are then converted intodigital data by radio front end circuitry 1012. The digital data may bepassed to processing circuitry 1020. In other embodiments, the interfacemay comprise different components and/or different combinations ofcomponents.

Processing circuitry 1020 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD 1010components, such as device readable medium 1030, WD 1010 functionality.Such functionality may include providing any of the various wirelessfeatures or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry1020 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 1030 orin memory within processing circuitry 1020 to provide the functionalitydisclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry 1020 includes one or more of RFtransceiver circuitry 1022, baseband processing circuitry 1024, andapplication processing circuitry 1026. In other embodiments, theprocessing circuitry may comprise different components and/or differentcombinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry1020 of WD 1010 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceivercircuitry 1022, baseband processing circuitry 1024, and applicationprocessing circuitry 1026 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. Inalternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry1024 and application processing circuitry 1026 may be combined into onechip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may be on aseparate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part orall of RF transceiver circuitry 1022 and baseband processing circuitry1024 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processingcircuitry 1026 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet otheralternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 1022,baseband processing circuitry 1024, and application processing circuitry1026 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In someembodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may be a part of interface1014. RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may condition RF signals forprocessing circuitry 1020.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processingcircuitry 1020 executing instructions stored on device readable medium1030, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storagemedium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality maybe provided by processing circuitry 1020 without executing instructionsstored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such asin a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whetherexecuting instructions stored on a device readable storage medium ornot, processing circuitry 1020 can be configured to perform thedescribed functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality arenot limited to processing circuitry 1020 alone or to other components ofWD 1010, but are enjoyed by WD 1010 as a whole, and/or by end users andthe wireless network generally.

Processing circuitry 1020 may be configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, asperformed by processing circuitry 1020, may include processinginformation obtained by processing circuitry 1020 by, for example,converting the obtained information into other information, comparingthe obtained information or converted information to information storedby WD 1010, and/or performing one or more operations based on theobtained information or converted information, and as a result of saidprocessing making a determination.

Device readable medium 1030 may be operable to store a computer program,software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code,tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed byprocessing circuitry 1020. Device readable medium 1030 may includecomputer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory(ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media(e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or anyother volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/orcomputer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/orinstructions that may be used by processing circuitry 1020. In someembodiments, processing circuitry 1020 and device readable medium 1030may be considered to be integrated.

User interface equipment 1032 may provide components that allow for ahuman user to interact with WD 1010. Such interaction may be of manyforms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment1032 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the userto provide input to WD 1010. The type of interaction may vary dependingon the type of user interface equipment 1032 installed in WD 1010. Forexample, if WD 1010 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touchscreen; if WD 1010 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through ascreen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or aspeaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected).User interface equipment 1032 may include input interfaces, devices andcircuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interfaceequipment 1032 is configured to allow input of information into WD 1010,and is connected to processing circuitry 1020 to allow processingcircuitry 1020 to process the input information. User interfaceequipment 1032 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity orother sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USBport, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment 1032 is alsoconfigured to allow output of information from WD 1010, and to allowprocessing circuitry 1020 to output information from WD 1010. Userinterface equipment 1032 may include, for example, a speaker, a display,vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other outputcircuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, andcircuits, of user interface equipment 1032, WD 1010 may communicate withend users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit fromthe functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment 1034 is operable to provide more specificfunctionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This maycomprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for variouspurposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wiredcommunications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliaryequipment 1034 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source 1036 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a batteryor battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external powersource (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or powercells, may also be used. WD 1010 may further comprise power circuitry1037 for delivering power from power source 1036 to the various parts ofWD 1010 which need power from power source 1036 to carry out anyfunctionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry 1037 may incertain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry1037 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power froman external power source; in which case WD 1010 may be connectable tothe external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via inputcircuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Powercircuitry 1037 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliverpower from an external power source to power source 1036. This may be,for example, for the charging of power source 1036. Power circuitry 1037may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to thepower from power source 1036 to make the power suitable for therespective components of WD 1010 to which power is supplied.

FIG. 10 is a schematic showing a user equipment in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with variousaspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may notnecessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/oroperates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device thatis intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which maynot, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific humanuser (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE mayrepresent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, anend user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit ofa user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE 1100 may be any UE identified bythe 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, amachine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.UE 1100, as illustrated in FIG. 10 , is one example of a WD configuredfor communication in accordance with one or more communication standardspromulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as3GPP’s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, theterm WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although FIG.10 is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to aWD, and vice-versa.

In FIG. 10 , UE 1100 includes processing circuitry 1101 that isoperatively coupled to input/output interface 1105, radio frequency (RF)interface 1109, network connection interface 1111, memory 1115 includingrandom access memory (RAM) 1117, read-only memory (ROM) 1119, andstorage medium 1121 or the like, communication subsystem 1131, powersource 1133, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof.Storage medium 1121 includes operating system 1123, application program1125, and data 1127. In other embodiments, storage medium 1121 mayinclude other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize allof the components shown in FIG. 10 , or only a subset of the components.The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE toanother UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of acomponent, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers,transmitters, receivers, etc.

In FIG. 10 , processing circuitry 1101 may be configured to processcomputer instructions and data. Processing circuitry 1101 may beconfigured to implement any sequential state machine operative toexecute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computerprograms in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented statemachines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logictogether with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program,general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combinationof the above. For example, the processing circuitry 1101 may include twocentral processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a formsuitable for use by a computer.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface 1105 may beconfigured to provide a communication interface to an input device,output device, or input and output device. UE 1100 may be configured touse an output device via input/output interface 1105. An output devicemay use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example,a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE 1100. Theoutput device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, amonitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another outputdevice, or any combination thereof. UE 1100 may be configured to use aninput device via input/output interface 1105 to allow a user to captureinformation into UE 1100. The input device may include a touch-sensitiveor presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, adigital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, amouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, asmartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include acapacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. Asensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tiltsensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximitysensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example,the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digitalcamera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.

In FIG. 10 , RF interface 1109 may be configured to provide acommunication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, areceiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface 1111 may beconfigured to provide a communication interface to network 1143 a.Network 1143 a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as alocal-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network,a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like networkor any combination thereof. For example, network 1143 a may comprise aWi-Fi network. Network connection interface 1111 may be configured toinclude a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate withone or more other devices over a communication network according to oneor more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM,or the like. Network connection interface 1111 may implement receiverand transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication networklinks (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter andreceiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware,or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM 1117 may be configured to interface via bus 1102 to processingcircuitry 1101 to provide storage or caching of data or computerinstructions during the execution of software programs such as theoperating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM 1119 maybe configured to provide computer instructions or data to processingcircuitry 1101. For example, ROM 1119 may be configured to storeinvariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions suchas basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokesfrom a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium1121 may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmableread-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magneticdisks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, orflash drives. In one example, storage medium 1121 may be configured toinclude operating system 1123, application program 1125 such as a webbrowser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application,and data file 1127. Storage medium 1121 may store, for use by UE 1100,any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations ofoperating systems.

Storage medium 1121 may be configured to include a number of physicaldrive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppydisk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive,thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc(HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray opticaldisc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive,external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamicrandom access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcardmemory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity(SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storagemedium 1121 may allow UE 1100 to access computer-executableinstructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory ornon-transitory memory media, to offload data, or to upload data. Anarticle of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system maybe tangibly embodied in storage medium 1121, which may comprise a devicereadable medium.

In FIG. 10 , processing circuitry 1101 may be configured to communicatewith network 1143 b using communication subsystem 1131. Network 1143 aand network 1143 b may be the same network or networks or differentnetwork or networks. Communication subsystem 1131 may be configured toinclude one or more transceivers used to communicate with network 1143b. For example, communication subsystem 1131 may be configured toinclude one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or moreremote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communicationsuch as another WD, LTE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN)according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.11,CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver mayinclude transmitter 1133 and/or receiver 1135 to implement transmitteror receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links(e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter 1133and receiver 1135 of each transceiver may share circuit components,software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions ofcommunication subsystem 1131 may include data communication, voicecommunication, multimedia communication, short-range communications suchas Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communicationsuch as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine alocation, another like communication function, or any combinationthereof. For example, communication subsystem 1131 may include cellularcommunication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPScommunication. Network 1143 b may encompass wired and/or wirelessnetworks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN),a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network,another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network1143 b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-fieldnetwork. Power source 1113 may be configured to provide alternatingcurrent (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE 1100.

The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may beimplemented in one of the components of UE 1100 or partitioned acrossmultiple components of UE 1100. Further, the features, benefits, and/orfunctions described herein may be implemented in any combination ofhardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem1131 may be configured to include any of the components describedherein. Further, processing circuitry 1101 may be configured tocommunicate with any of such components over bus 1102. In anotherexample, any of such components may be represented by programinstructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry1101 perform the corresponding functions described herein. In anotherexample, the functionality of any of such components may be partitionedbetween processing circuitry 1101 and communication subsystem 1131. Inanother example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any ofsuch components may be implemented in software or firmware and thecomputationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

FIG. 11 is a schematic showing a virtualization environment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualizationenvironment 1200 in which functions implemented by some embodiments maybe virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creatingvirtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may includevirtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networkingresources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node(e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) orto a device (e.g., a LTE, a wireless device or any other type ofcommunication device) or components thereof and relates to animplementation in which at least a portion of the functionality isimplemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or moreapplications, components, functions, virtual machines or containersexecuting on one or more physical processing nodes in one or morenetworks).

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein maybe implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtualmachines implemented in one or more virtual environments 1200 hosted byone or more of hardware nodes 1230. Further, in embodiments in which thevirtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radioconnectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may beentirely virtualized.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications 1220 (whichmay alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances,network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.)operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefitsof some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications 1220 are runin virtualization environment 1200 which provides hardware 1230comprising processing circuitry 1260 and memory 1290. Memory 1290contains instructions 1295 executable by processing circuitry 1260whereby application 1220 is operative to provide one or more of thefeatures, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment 1200, comprises general-purpose orspecial-purpose network hardware devices 1230 comprising a set of one ormore processors or processing circuitry 1260, which may be commercialoff-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitryincluding digital or analog hardware components or special purposeprocessors. Each hardware device may comprise memory 1290-1 which may benon-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions 1295 orsoftware executed by processing circuitry 1260. Each hardware device maycomprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 1270, alsoknown as network interface cards, which include physical networkinterface 1280. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory,persistent, machine-readable storage media 1290-2 having stored thereinsoftware 1295 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry1260. Software 1295 may include any type of software including softwarefor instantiating one or more virtualization layers 1250 (also referredto as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines 1240 as well assoftware allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefitsdescribed in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines 1240, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory,virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by acorresponding virtualization layer 1250 or hypervisor. Differentembodiments of the instance of virtual appliance 1220 may be implementedon one or more of virtual machines 1240, and the implementations may bemade in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry 1260 executes software 1295 toinstantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer 1250, which maysometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM).Virtualization layer 1250 may present a virtual operating platform thatappears like networking hardware to virtual machine 1240.

As shown in FIG. 11 , hardware 1230 may be a standalone network nodewith generic or specific components. Hardware 1230 may comprise antenna12225 and may implement some functions via virtualization.Alternatively, hardware 1230 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware(e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE))where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via managementand orchestration (MANO) 12100, which, among others, oversees lifecyclemanagement of applications 1220.

Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to asnetwork function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidatemany network equipment types onto industry standard high volume serverhardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be locatedin data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine 1240 may be a softwareimplementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they wereexecuting on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtualmachines 1240, and that part of hardware 1230 that executes that virtualmachine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/orhardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtualmachines 1240, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) isresponsible for handling specific network functions that run in one ormore virtual machines 1240 on top of hardware networking infrastructure1230 and corresponds to application 1220 in FIG. 11 .

In some embodiments, one or more radio units 12200 that each include oneor more transmitters 12220 and one or more receivers 12210 may becoupled to one or more antennas 12225. Radio units 12200 may communicatedirectly with hardware nodes 1230 via one or more appropriate networkinterfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components toprovide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio accessnode or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use ofcontrol system 12230 which may alternatively be used for communicationbetween the hardware nodes 1230 and radio units 12200.

FIG. 12 is a schematic showing a telecommunication network connected viaan intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with someembodiments.

With reference to FIG. 12 , in accordance with an embodiment, acommunication system includes telecommunication network 1310, such as a3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network 1311, such asa radio access network, and core network 1314. Access network 1311comprises a plurality of base stations 1312 a, 1312 b, 1312 c, such asNBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defininga corresponding coverage area 1313 a, 1313 b, 1313 c. Each base station1312 a, 1312 b, 1312 c is connectable to core network 1314 over a wiredor wireless connection 1315. A first UE 1391 located in coverage area1313 c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, thecorresponding base station 1312 c. A second UE 1392 in coverage area1313 a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 1312a. While a plurality of UEs 1391, 1392 are illustrated in this example,the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where asole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to thecorresponding base station 1312.

Telecommunication network 1310 is itself connected to host computer1330, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of astandalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server oras processing resources in a server farm. Host computer 1330 may beunder the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operatedby the service provider or on behalf of the service provider.Connections 1321 and 1322 between telecommunication network 1310 andhost computer 1330 may extend directly from core network 1314 to hostcomputer 1330 or may go via an optional intermediate network 1320.Intermediate network 1320 may be one of, or a combination of more thanone of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network 1320,if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular,intermediate network 1320 may comprise two or more sub-networks (notshown).

The communication system of FIG. 12 as a whole enables connectivitybetween the connected UEs 1391, 1392 and host computer 1330. Theconnectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 1350.Host computer 1330 and the connected UEs 1391, 1392 are configured tocommunicate data and/or signalling via OTT connection 1350, using accessnetwork 1311, core network 1314, any intermediate network 1320 andpossible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTTconnection 1350 may be transparent in the sense that the participatingcommunication devices through which OTT connection 1350 passes areunaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example,base station 1312 may not or need not be informed about the past routingof an incoming downlink communication with data originating from hostcomputer 1330 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE1391. Similarly, base station 1312 need not be aware of the futurerouting of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 1391towards the host computer 1330.

FIG. 13 is a schematic showing a host computer communicating via a basestation with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection inaccordance with some embodiments.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE,base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphswill now be described with reference to FIG. 13 . In communicationsystem 1400, host computer 1410 comprises hardware 1415 includingcommunication interface 1416 configured to set up and maintain a wiredor wireless connection with an interface of a different communicationdevice of communication system 1400. Host computer 1410 furthercomprises processing circuitry 1418, which may have storage and/orprocessing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry 1418 maycomprise one or more programmable processors, application-specificintegrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations ofthese (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer 1410further comprises software 1411, which is stored in or accessible byhost computer 1410 and executable by processing circuitry 1418. Software1411 includes host application 1412. Host application 1412 may beoperable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE 1430connecting via OTT connection 1450 terminating at UE 1430 and hostcomputer 1410. In providing the service to the remote user, hostapplication 1412 may provide user data which is transmitted using OTTconnection 1450.

Communication system 1400 further includes base station 1420 provided ina telecommunication system and comprising hardware 1425 enabling it tocommunicate with host computer 1410 and with UE 1430. Hardware 1425 mayinclude communication interface 1426 for setting up and maintaining awired or wireless connection with an interface of a differentcommunication device of communication system 1400, as well as radiointerface 1427 for setting up and maintaining at least wirelessconnection 1470 with UE 1430 located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG. 13 ) served by base station 1420. Communication interface 1426 maybe configured to facilitate connection 1460 to host computer 1410.Connection 1460 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (notshown in FIG. 13 ) of the telecommunication system and/or through one ormore intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In theembodiment shown, hardware 1425 of base station 1420 further includesprocessing circuitry 1428, which may comprise one or more programmableprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmablegate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to executeinstructions. Base station 1420 further has software 1421 storedinternally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system 1400 further includes UE 1430 already referred to.Its hardware 1435 may include radio interface 1437 configured to set upand maintain wireless connection 1470 with a base station serving acoverage area in which UE 1430 is currently located. Hardware 1435 of UE1430 further includes processing circuitry 1438, which may comprise oneor more programmable processors, application-specific integratedcircuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (notshown) adapted to execute instructions. UE 1430 further comprisessoftware 1431, which is stored in or accessible by UE 1430 andexecutable by processing circuitry 1438. Software 1431 includes clientapplication 1432. Client application 1432 may be operable to provide aservice to a human or non-human user via UE 1430, with the support ofhost computer 1410. In host computer 1410, an executing host application1412 may communicate with the executing client application 1432 via OTTconnection 1450 terminating at UE 1430 and host computer 1410. Inproviding the service to the user, client application 1432 may receiverequest data from host application 1412 and provide user data inresponse to the request data. OTT connection 1450 may transfer both therequest data and the user data. Client application 1432 may interactwith the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer 1410, base station 1420 and UE 1430illustrated in FIG. 13 may be similar or identical to host computer1330, one of base stations 1312 a, 1312 b, 1312 c and one of UEs 1391,1392 of FIG. 12 , respectively. This is to say, the inner workings ofthese entities may be as shown in FIG. 13 and independently, thesurrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 12 .

In FIG. 13 , OTT connection 1450 has been drawn abstractly to illustratethe communication between host computer 1410 and UE 1430 via basestation 1420, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices andthe precise routing of messages via these devices. Networkinfrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured tohide from UE 1430 or from the service provider operating host computer1410, or both. While OTT connection 1450 is active, the networkinfrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamicallychanges the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing considerationor reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection 1470 between UE 1430 and base station 1420 is inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve theperformance of OTT services provided to UE 1430 using OTT connection1450, in which wireless connection 1470 forms the last segment. Moreprecisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the latency,and power consumption for a reactivation of the network connection, andthereby provide benefits, such as reduced user waiting time, enhancedrate control.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoringdata rate, latency and other factors on which the one or moreembodiments improve. There may further be an optional networkfunctionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 1450 between hostcomputer 1410 and UE 1430, in response to variations in the measurementresults. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality forreconfiguring OTT connection 1450 may be implemented in software 1411and hardware 1415 of host computer 1410 or in software 1431 and hardware1435 of UE 1430, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may bedeployed in or in association with communication devices through whichOTT connection 1450 passes; the sensors may participate in themeasurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantitiesexemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities fromwhich software 1411, 1431 may compute or estimate the monitoredquantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection 1450 may include messageformat, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; thereconfiguring need not affect base station 1420, and it may be unknownor imperceptible to base station 1420. Such procedures andfunctionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certainembodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signallingfacilitating host computer 1410’s measurements of throughput,propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may beimplemented in that software 1411 and 1431 causes messages to betransmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTTconnection 1450 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG. 14 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 14will be included in this section. In step 1510, the host computerprovides user data. In substep 1511 (which may be optional) of step1510, the host computer provides the user data by executing a hostapplication. In step 1520, the host computer initiates a transmissioncarrying the user data to the UE. In step 1530 (which may be optional),the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried inthe transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance withthe teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.In step 1540 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a clientapplication associated with the host application executed by the hostcomputer.

FIG. 15 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 15will be included in this section. In step 1610 of the method, the hostcomputer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the hostcomputer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step1620, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user datato the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordancewith the teachings of the embodiments described throughout thisdisclosure. In step 1630 (which may be optional), the UE receives theuser data carried in the transmission.

FIG. 16 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 16will be included in this section. In step 1710 (which may be optional),the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionallyor alternatively, in step 1720, the UE provides user data. In substep1721 (which may be optional) of step 1720, the UE provides the user databy executing a client application. In substep 1711 (which may beoptional) of step 1710, the UE executes a client application whichprovides the user data in reaction to the received input data providedby the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed clientapplication may further consider user input received from the user.Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided,the UE initiates, in substep 1730 (which may be optional), transmissionof the user data to the host computer. In step 1740 of the method, thehost computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 17will be included in this section. In step 1810 (which may be optional),in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. Instep 1820 (which may be optional), the base station initiatestransmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step1830 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user datacarried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

According to an aspect of the disclosure it is provided a computerprogram product being tangibly stored on a computer readable storagemedium and including instructions which, when executed on at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of themethods as described above.

According to an aspect of the disclosure it is provided acomputer-readable storage medium storing instructions which whenexecuted by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor tocarry out any of the methods as described above.

Embodiments herein afford many advantages, of which a non-exhaustivelist of examples follows. In some embodiments herein, methods on themsgA PUSCH waveform configuration or transform precoding configurationin CFRA are proposed. In some embodiments herein, the proposed methodscan consider both the flexible signaling dynamically provided in thededicated message and the signaling overhead via reusing some of theexisting parameters instead. The embodiments herein are not limited tothe features and advantages mentioned above. A person skilled in the artwill recognize additional features and advantages upon reading thefollowing detailed description.

In addition, the present disclosure may also provide a carriercontaining the computer program as mentioned above, wherein the carrieris one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, orcomputer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage mediumcan be, for example, an optical compact disk or an electronic memorydevice like a RAM (random access memory), a ROM (read only memory),Flash memory, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, DVD, Blue-ray disc and the like.

The techniques described herein may be implemented by various means sothat an apparatus implementing one or more functions of a correspondingapparatus described with an embodiment comprises not only prior artmeans, but also means for implementing the one or more functions of thecorresponding apparatus described with the embodiment and it maycomprise separate means for each separate function, or means that may beconfigured to perform two or more functions. For example, thesetechniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more apparatuses),firmware (one or more apparatuses), software (one or more modules), orcombinations thereof. For a firmware or software, implementation may bemade through modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein.

Exemplary embodiments herein have been described above with reference toblock diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods and apparatuses.It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implementedby various means including computer program instructions. These computerprogram instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer,special purpose computer, or other programmable data processingapparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which executeon the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus createmeans for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, thisshould not be understood as requiring that such operations be performedin the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that allillustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Incertain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may beadvantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation detailsare contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed aslimitations on the scope of the subject matter described herein, butrather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particularembodiments. Certain features that are described in the context ofseparate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a singleembodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in thecontext of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multipleembodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyimplementation or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures that may be specific to particular embodiments of particularimplementations. Certain features that are described in thisspecification in the context of separate embodiments can also beimplemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are described in the context of a single embodiment canalso be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in anysuitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as thetechnology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in variousways. The above described embodiments are given for describing ratherthan limiting the disclosure, and it is to be understood thatmodifications and variations may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the disclosure as those skilled in the artreadily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered tobe within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. Theprotection scope of the disclosure is defined by the accompanyingclaims.

1. A method implemented at a terminal device, the method comprising:obtaining at least one transform precoding parameter to be used for arequest message for a contention free random access (CFRA); andtransmitting, to a network node, the request message for the CFRA;wherein the request message comprises a random access channel (RACH)preamble and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH); and wherein atransform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message is controlledbased on the at least one transform precoding parameter.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one transform precodingparameter comprises one or more of: at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA; at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in a two-step contention-based random access(CBRA); at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in afour-step random access; at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH scheduled by downlink control information (DCI); and at leastone transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH with a configured grant.3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transform precoding onthe PUSCH of the request message is controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the transform precoding on the PUSCH ofthe request message is controlled based on the at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in a two-step contention-based (CBRA).5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transform precoding onthe PUSCH of the request message is controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in a four-step randomaccess.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transformprecoding on the PUSCH of the request message is controlled based on theat least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH scheduled bydownlink control information (PCI).
 7. The method according to claim 1,wherein the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message iscontrolled based on the at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH with a configured grant.
 8. The method according to claim 1,wherein when the at least one transform precoding parameter for thePUSCH in the CFRA is obtained, the transform precoding on the PUSCH ofthe request message is controlled based on the at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA; and when the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA is not obtainedand when one or more of following transform precoding parameters isobtained, the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message iscontrolled based on the one or more of the following transform precodingparameters: at least one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH ina two-step contention-based random access (CBRA); at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in a four-step random access; at leastone transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH scheduled by downlinkcontrol information (DCI); and; at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH with a configured grant.
 9. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein at least one transform precoding parameter for thePUSCH in the CFRA is provided in a dedicated signalling.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the dedicated signalling comprises atleast one of: a dedicated signalling for random access in a radioresource control (RRC) message; a handover command message; a beamfailure recover message; and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)ordering the random access with two-step CFRA.
 11. The method accordingto claim 10, wherein the dedicated signalling for random access in theRRC message is RACHConfigDedicated information element (IE).
 12. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the network node is a handovertarget network node, the method further comprises: receiving thededicated signalling from a handover source network node, wherein the atleast one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA issent by the handover target network node to the handover source networknode.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CFRA is atwo-step CFRA, the method further comprises: receiving, from the networknode, a response indicating whether the CFRA is successful.
 14. A methodimplemented at a network node, the method comprising: transmitting atleast one transform precoding parameter to a terminal device; andreceiving, from the terminal device, a request message for a contentionfree random access (CFRA); wherein the request message comprises arandom access channel (RACH) preamble and a physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH); and wherein a transform precoding on the PUSCH of therequest message is controlled based on the at least one transformprecoding parameter.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein theat least one transform precoding parameter comprises one or more of: atleast one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA; atleast one transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in a two-stepcontention-based random access (CBRA); at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH in a four-step random access; at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH scheduled by downlinkcontrol information (DCI); and at least one transform precodingparameter for the PUSCH with a configured grant.
 16. (canceled)
 17. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein the transform precoding on thePUSCH of the request message is controlled based on the at least onetransform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in a two-stepcontention-based CBRA.
 18. The method according to claim 14 or 15,wherein the transform precoding on the PUSCH of the request message iscontrolled based on the at least one transform precoding parameter forthe PUSCH in a four-step random access. 19-24. (canceled)
 25. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the network node is a handover targetnetwork node, said transmitting at least one transform precodingparameter to the terminal device comprises: transmitting the at leastone transform precoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA to ahandover source network node which transmits the at least one transformprecoding parameter for the PUSCH in the CFRA in a dedicated signallingto the terminal device.
 26. The method according to claim 14, whereinthe CFRA is a two-step CFRA, the method further comprises: transmitting,to the terminal device, a response indicating whether the CFRA issuccessful.
 27. A terminal device, comprising: a processor; and amemory, the memory containing instructions which, when executed by theprocessor, cause the terminal device to: obtain at least one transformprecoding parameter to be used for a request message for a contentionfree random access (CFRA) and transmit, to a network node, the requestmessage for the CFRA; wherein the request message comprises: a randomaccess channel (RACH) preamble and a physical uplink shared channel(PUSCH); and wherein a transform precoding on the PUSCH of the requestmessage is controlled based on the at least one transform precodingparameter. 28-32. (canceled)